Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 director James Gunn has received the “Not a Number” award from PETA in honor of the film‘s handling of animal cruelty.
Much of the movie revolves around Rocket’s past as the raccoon and his friends were tested by the High Evolutionary. Several heartbreaking scenes throughout the movie show the inhumane treatment of the animals.
Why did PETA give James Gunn an award?
The Not a Number award is “in honor of the millions of real animals who endure needless experiments at the hands of cruel corporations.” The organization thanks Gunn for “his unflinching advocacy in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, reminding viewers that all animals deserve a life of freedom under the open sky rather than confinement to laboratory cages.”
PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange personally praised the movie for its portrayal of the horrors of animal testing.
“Through Rocket, James Gunn has put a face, a name, and a personality on the millions of vulnerable animals being cycled through laboratories as we speak,” said Lange. “PETA is celebrating this as the best animal rights film of the year for helping audiences see animals as individuals and suggesting that just because we can experiment on them doesn’t mean that we should.”
